Strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawFourteen’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawFourteen’. The new cultivar is primarily characterized by a medium density plant with medium vigor, medium-sized fruit having a large hollow center, and a partially everbearing habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Fragaria×ananassa.

Variety denomination: ‘DrisStrawFourteen’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry cultivar designated ‘DrisStrawFourteen’ and botanically known as Fragaria×ananassa. This new strawberry cultivar was discovered in Monterey County, Calif. in May 2005 and originated from a cross between the proprietary female parent ‘159K312’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male parent ‘128K296’ (unpatented). The original seedling of the new cultivar was first asexually propagated by stolons or tissue culture at a nursery in Shasta County, Calif.

‘DrisStrawFourteen’ was subsequently asexually propagated in Shasta County, Calif. and underwent further testing in Monterey County, Calif. for five years. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations via stolons and tissue culture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs show typical specimens of the new cultivar at various stages of development as nearly true as it is possible to make in color reproductions. The photographs were taken from 9-month-old plants.

FIG. 1 shows overall plant habit including fruit at various stages of development.

FIG. 2 shows leaves of the plant with three leaflets.

FIG. 3 shows both the upper side and underside of several of the flowers.

FIG. 4 shows the whole fruit.

FIG. 5 shows the fruit in longitudinal cross-section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following description of ‘DrisStrawFourteen’ is based on observations taken in Monterey County, Calif. from 2005 to 2009. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic, and cultural conditions. ‘DrisStrawFourteen’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The botanical description of ‘DrisStrawFourteen’ was taken from 9-month-old plants and the botanical descriptions of the comparison varieties, ‘San Juan’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,899) and ‘Driscoll Lanai’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,145), were taken from 10-month-old plants and from 8-month-old plants, respectively. Color terminology follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, London (RHS) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Table 1 shows plant characteristics of the new variety compared with plant characteristics of the commercial varieties ‘San Juan’ and ‘Driscoll Lanai’. Plant characteristics include plant height, diameter, number of crowns per plant, habit, the density of individual plants and the vigor.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘DrisStrawFourteen’ ‘San Juan’ ‘Driscoll Lanai’ Plant height (cm) 24.9 23.6 22.8 Plant diameter (cm) 39.6 44.2 40.1 Number of crowns/ 3 2 2 plant Habit Globose Globose Globose Density of Medium Dense Medium individual plant Vigor Medium Strong Medium

Table 2 shows leaf characteristics of the new cultivar compared with leaf characteristics of ‘San Juan’ and ‘Driscoll Lanai’. Leaf characteristics include terminal leaflet length and width in centimeters, length to width ratio, number of teeth per terminal leaflet, shape of teeth, color of upper side and underside of leaf, leaf shape in cross section, leaf blistering, leaf glossiness, number of leaflets, terminal leaflet margin, terminal leaflet length to width ratio, overall leaf shape and shape of leaf apex and base.

TABLE 2 ‘DrisStrawFourteen’ ‘San Juan’ ‘Driscoll Lanai’ Leaf Characteristic Terminal leaflet 7.6 7.4 7.2 length (cm) Terminal leaflet 0.84 0.74 0.69 width (cm) Terminal leaflet 0.9 1.0 1.0 length/width ratio No. teeth/ 28 21 20 terminal leaflet Characteristic Shape of teeth Obtuse Rounded Rounded Color of upper RHS 147A RHS 139A RHS 147A surface of leaf (Dark yellow- (Dark green) (Dark yellow- green) green) Color of lower RHS 148B RHS 147B RHS 148C surface of leaf (Medium (Medium (Medium yellow-green) yellow-green) yellow-green) Leaf shape in Slightly Slightly Flat cross section concave concave Leaf blistering Medium Medium Medium Leaf glossiness Medium Medium Medium No. leaflets 3 only 3 only 3 only Terminal leaflet Flat Revolute to Revolute to margin flat flat Terminal leaflet As long as As long as As long as length/width ratio broad broad broad Terminal leaflet Orbicular Orbicular Orbicular shape Terminal leaflet Rounded Rounded Rounded base shape Terminal leaflet Rounded Rounded Rounded apex shape

Table 3 shows information about the petiole, the petiolule, the bract, and the stipule of the new cultivar compared to ‘San Juan’ and ‘Driscoll Lanai’. This includes petiole length in centimeters, petiole diameter in centimeters, petiole pubescence, pose of hairs on the petiole, color of the petiole, color of the petiolule, petiolule length in centimeters, petiolule diameter in centimeters, bract frequency per petiole, stipule length in centimeters, stipule width in centimeters, stipule pubescence and stipule anthocyanin coloration.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘DrisStrawFourteen’ ‘San Juan’ ‘Driscoll Lanai’ Petiole length 13.8 16.3 14.4 (cm) Petiole diameter 0.333 0.314 0.280 (cm) Petiole Sparse Medium Medium pubescence Petiole pose Upwards to Outwards Between of hairs downwards upwards and outwards Petiole color RHS 144B RHS 146B RHS 144C (Medium (Medium (Medium yellow-green) yellow-green) yellow-green) Petiolule color RHS 144B RHS 146C RHS 144C (Medium (Medium (Medium yellow-green) yellow-green) yellow-green) Petiolule length 7.21 8.63 12.26 (mm) Petiolule 0.165 0.170 0.145 diameter (cm) Bract frequency 1 1 0 Stipule length 3.8 3.3 3.3 (cm) Stipule width 0.694 0.929 0.897 (cm) Stipule Dense Medium Dense pubescence Stipule RHS 145D RHS 149D RHS 149D anthocyanin (Light (Light (Light coloration yellow-green) yellow-green) yellow-green)

Table 4 shows stolon characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘San Juan’ and ‘Driscoll Lanai’. These characteristics include the number of stolons, average number of daughter plants, the anthocyanin coloration of the stolons, the thickness of the stolons, and the pubescence of the stolons.

TABLE 4 Characteristic ‘DrisStrawFourteen’ ‘San Juan’ ‘Driscoll Lanai’ Stolon number Medium Between Many medium and many Average number 30+ 57 67 of daughter plants Stolon RHS 60C RHS 59A RHS 60A anthocyanin (Dark red- (Dark red- (Dark red- purple) purple) purple) Stolon thickness Medium Medium Between medium and thick Stolon pubescence Medium Medium Dense

Table 5 shows inflorescence characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘San Juan’ and ‘Driscoll Lanai’. These characteristics include inflorescence position relative to foliage, time of flowering, relative flower size, flower diameter in centimeters (measured from petal tip to petal tip), petal shape, relative spacing of petals, petal apex, base and margin, petal length in centimeters, petal width in centimeters, petal length to width ratio, number of petals, petal color, calyx diameter in centimeters (measured on back of flower from sepal tip to sepal tip), diameter of calyx relative to corolla, diameter of inner calyx relative to outer, sepal shape, apex and margin, sepal length in centimeters (measured from sepal tip to point of attachment to receptacle), sepal width in centimeters, number of sepals, receptacle color and anther color.

TABLE 5 Characteristic ‘DrisStrawFourteen’ ‘San Juan’ ‘Driscoll Lanai’ Inflorescence Level with Beneath Level with position relative to foliage Time of flowering Between Between Between (50% of plants early and early and early and at first flower) medium medium medium Flower size Medium Medium Medium Flower diameter 2.430 2.792 2.540 (cm) Petal shape Orbicular Orbicular Orbicular Petal spacing Overlapping Overlapping Overlapping Petal apex shape Rounded Rounded Rounded Petal margin Entire Entire Entire Petal base shape Concave- Concave- Rounded convex convex Petal length (cm) 1.216 1.347 1.221 Petal width (cm) 1.149 1.469 1.285 Petal length/ As long as As long as As long as width ratio broad broad broad Petal length/ 1.1 0.9 1.0 width ratio Typical and 6 6 7 observed petal number Petal color RHS 155C RHS 155D RHS 155B (White) (White) (White) Calyx diameter 3.444 3.631 3.228 (cm) Calyx diameter Larger Larger Larger relative to corolla Inner calyx Same size Same size Same size diameter relative to outer Sepal shape Oval Oval Oval Sepal apex shape Convex Convex Convex Sepal margin Entire Entire Entire Sepal length (cm) 1.369 1.461 1.150 Sepal width (cm) 0.681 0.767 0.461 Typical and 13 13 13 observed sepal number Receptacle color RHS 2A RHS 151A RHS N144B (Medium yellow) (Medium (Medium yellow-green) yellow-green) Anther color RHS 152B RHS 178A RHS 163A (Medium (Dark greyed- (Medium yellow-green) red) greyed-orange)

Table 6 shows fruit characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘San Juan’ and ‘Driscoll Lanai’. These characteristics include fruiting truss length in centimeters, fruiting truss diameter, number of berries per truss, fruiting truss attitude, fruiting truss color, fruit length in centimeters, fruit truss width in centimeters, fruit length to width ratio, fruit hollow length and width in centimeters, fruit hollow length to width ratio, fruit weight in grams, relative fruit size, predominant fruit shape, difference in shape between primary and secondary fruits, band without achenes, unevenness of fruit surface, fruit skin color, evenness of fruit color, fruit glossiness, insertion of achenes, achene coloration (sunward and shaded sides of berry) and the number of achenes per berry.

TABLE 6 Characteristic ‘DrisStrawFourteen’ ‘San Juan’ ‘Driscoll Lanai’ Fruiting truss 18.8 22.8 17.2 length (cm) Fruiting truss Medium Between Medium length (general) medium and long Fruiting truss 0.429 0.391 0.327 diameter (cm) at base of truss Number of berries 4 4 4 per fruiting truss Fruiting truss Prostrate Prostrate Prostrate attitude Fruiting truss RHS 144A RHS 144A RHS 144A color at base (Medium (Medium (Medium of truss yellow-green) yellow-green) yellow-green) Fruit length (cm) 4.149 4.349 3.752 Fruit width (cm) 3.840 3.784 3.683 Fruit length/ 1.1 1.1 1.0 width ratio Fruit hollow 2.139 1.837 1.222 length (cm) Fruit hollow 0.716 0.538 0.424 width (cm) Fruit hollow 3.0 3.4 2.9 length/width ratio Fruit weight (g) 29.1 25.4 24.9 Fruit ratio of As long as As long as As long as length/maximum broad broad broad width Relative fruit size Medium Medium Medium Predominant Conical Conical Conical and fruit shape almost cylindrical Difference in shape Slight Slight Slight between primary and secondary fruits Band without Absent or very Broad Narrow achenes narrow Unevenness of Weak Medium Weak fruit surface Fruit skin color RHS 46B RHS 46A RHS 46A (Dark red) (Dark red) (Dark red) Evenness of Even Slightly Even fruit color uneven Fruit glossiness Medium Medium Medium Insertion of Below surface Level with Above surface achenes to above surface surface Achene coloration RHS 185A RHS 183C RHS 176A (sunward side of (Dark greyed- (Dark greyed- (Dark greyed- berry) purple) purple) orange) Achene coloration RHS N144B RHS 152C RHS 152C (shaded side of (Medium (Medium (Medium berry) yellow-green) yellow-green) yellow-green) Achenes per berry 340.6 273.4 294.5

Table 7 shows fruit characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘San Juan’ and ‘Driscoll Lanai’. These characteristics include the harvest maturity, insertion of calyx, pose of calyx segments, size of calyx in relation to fruit, adherence of calyx, firmness of flesh, color of the fruit flesh, evenness of the flesh color, distribution of flesh color, hollow center, sweetness of fruit, acidity of fruit, texture of fruit when tasted, type of bearing, grams of fruit per plant.

TABLE 7 Characteristic ‘DrisStrawFourteen’ ‘San Juan’ ‘Driscoll Lanai’ Harvest Late March Late March Late March interval to early to early to early November November November Harvest Late Between Between maturity early and early and mid-season mid-season Insertion of Level Set above Level calyx fruit Pose of calyx Reflexed Reflexed Reflexed segments Size of calyx From same Same size From same in relation to size to size to fruit larger larger Adherence of Strong Strong Medium calyx Firmness of Firm Medium Medium flesh Color of RHS 155D RHS 155B RHS 155C the flesh (White) and (White) and (White) and RHS 43B RHS 43A RHS 46A (Medium red) (Medium red) (Dark red) Evenness of Slightly Slightly Slightly flesh color uneven uneven uneven Distribution Marginal Marginal Marginal of flesh color and central and central and central Hollow center Large Small Small Sweetness Medium Medium Medium Acidity Medium Medium Medium Texture when Medium Medium Medium tasted Type of bearing Partially Partially Partially everbearing everbearing everbearing Grams of fruit/ 1,463 1,303 1,699 plant

Table 8 shows pest, stress and disease characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘San Juan’ and ‘Driscoll Lanai’.

TABLE 8 Pest, Stress, or Disease ‘DrisStrawFourteen’ ‘San Juan’ ‘Driscoll Lanai’ Botrytis Moderately Susceptible Susceptible fruit rot resistant Powdery Between resistant Susceptible Susceptible mildew and moderately resistant Verticillium Moderately Susceptible Moderately wilt resistant susceptible Rain Between resistant Between resistant Moderately and moderately and moderately resistant resistant resistant

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

When ‘DrisStrawFourteen’ is compared to the proprietary female parent ‘159K312’ (unpatented), ‘DrisStrawFourteen’ has larger fruit and better organic performance than does ‘159K312 ’ .

When ‘DrisStrawFourteen’ is compared to the proprietary male parent ‘128K296’ (unpatented), ‘DrisStrawFourteen’ has larger fruit and better organic performance than does ‘128K296’.

When ‘DrisStrawFourteen’ is compared to the commercial variety ‘San Juan’, ‘DrisStrawFourteen’ has softer but more fruit in the second half of the season than does ‘San Juan’.

Table 9 shows selected plant characteristics of the new variety compared with plant characteristics of ‘San Juan’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,899) and ‘Driscoll Lanai’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,145). Plant characteristics include terminal leaflet margin profile, insertion of achenes, and fruit production.

TABLE 9 Characteristic ‘DrisStrawFourteen’ ‘San Juan’ ‘Driscoll Lanai’ Terminal leaflet Flat Revolute Revolute margin profile to flat to flat Insertion of Below surface to Level with Above achenes above surface surface surface Fruit production, 1,463 1,303 1,699 grams/plant 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant as described and shown herein. 